Short Summary

MR PATRICK GORDON WALKER, THE BRITISH MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO, ARRIVED IN MALTA TODAY (SUNDAY) FOR TALKS WITH MALTESE LEADERS AIMED AT FINDING A BASIS FOR NEW DISCUSSIONS ON BRITAIN'S PLANS TO CUT ITS FORCES IN THE ISLAND.

Description

MR PATRICK GORDON WALKER, THE BRITISH MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO, ARRIVED IN MALTA TODAY (SUNDAY) FOR TALKS WITH MALTESE LEADERS AIMED AT FINDING A BASIS FOR NEW DISCUSSIONS ON BRITAIN'S PLANS TO CUT ITS FORCES IN THE ISLAND. HE IS TO MEET THE MALTESE PRIME MINISTER, DR BORG OLIVIER, THE OPPOSITION LEADER DOM MINTOFF, AND OTHER PROMINENT PEOPLE.

MR GORDON WALKER IS IN CHARGE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE WHILE THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY, MR HERBERT BOWDEN, IS ON A VISIT TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. BEFORE HE LEFT LONDON, MR GORDON WALKER SAID BRITAIN AND MALTA HAD MANY COMMON INTERESTS, AND IT WAS UNTHINKABLE THAT THEY COULD BREAK UP IN ANGER. HE SAID HIS VISIT WAS REALLY THE STARTING POINT.

THE MALTESE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THE VISIT WAS INTENDED TO CLARIFY RECENT EXCHANGES WITH BRITAIN.

BRITAIN HAS DECIDED TO CUT THE STRENGTH OF ITS FORCES IN THE ISLAND FROM 4,300 TO 1,500 OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. ONE OF THE MAJOR POINTS AT ISSUE IS WHETHER BRITAIN SHOULD FIND WORK FOR THE 6,000 MALTESE WHO WILL LOSE THEIR JOB OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS BECAUSE OF THE CUTS. SHIP REPAIRING IS THE ISLAND'S MAIN INDUSTRY.